French authorities have lifted a lockdown order on the cruise ship Ambition, which was hit by a norovirus outbreak. The vessel, carrying mostly passengers from the UK and Ireland, had been prevented from disembarking in Bordeaux since Tuesday.
Asymptomatic individuals were allowed to leave the ship from Wednesday afternoon, while those infected were ordered to remain onboard in isolation. The lockdown affected all 1,701 people onboard, including 1,187 passengers and 514 crew members.
One person, a 92-year-old British man, died of a heart attack during the outbreak. Health authorities confirmed his death was unrelated to the norovirus. Ambassador Cruise Line, the Essex-based operator, reported 48 passengers and one crew member with active gastrointestinal illness.
Passenger Seos Guilidhe, 52, from Belfast, described the lockdown as less severe than during the Covid-19 pandemic, noting he was playing bingo. The ship had departed Belfast on 8 May and called at Liverpool before a 14-night voyage to France and Spain.
The cruise line implemented enhanced sanitation and prevention protocols, including increased cleaning, assisted dining, and guidance on hand hygiene. They also confirmed no link to a hantavirus outbreak on another cruise ship.
